| Bluebonnet | |
|---|---|
| At Cocoparra National Park, Australia | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittacidae |
| Subfamily: | Platycercinae |
| Tribe: | Platycercini |
| Genus: | Northiella Mathews, 1912 |
| Species: | N. haematogaster |
| Binomial name | |
| Northiella haematogaster (Gould, 1838) |
|
The Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster) is an Australian parrot, the only member of the genus Northiella. Its habitat includes open woodland, scrub, riverine forest, spinifex, and farmlands in the eastern half of the continent, with a smaller race being found in the Western Australian Nullarbor region.
This species grows up to 27–35 cm in length and the sexes are similar in appearance. They are usually seen in pairs or small groups feeding along roads. They breed between July and December producing 4 to 7 white eggs.
It is a moderately common species in the wild though not so in captivity due to its duller colouring and pugnacious behaviour.
The genus name commemorates the Australian ornithologist Alfred John North.